How do you bring in an aggressive horse from the field?

[~Wishful Thinking~]

OK so- bringing in fiesty horses really isn't that hard, if you know how to handle them- BUT what about and extreamly aggressive horse for seemingly NO reason? He isn't ridden hard, he's always groomed well, stand still for farrier work, and doesn't mind the vet but just bringing in! You get any where near him in the field and he runs off, charges you, bucks bites or pushes you over with his body.WHAT DO I DO?

[Bezzella]

Carrots? Try already leaving his halter on in the paddock to make it easier. It may be a little less safe, but it is much more convenient. Get an old leather "Paddock" halter that would break if he caught it on something.


I reccomend trying to get him to be more active in the pasture. Maybe chase him around a little with some friends so that way he will be a little more worked...

They do that to some of the harder horses to catch at the barn I ride at.

[Cowgirls Rule]

[Bezzella]

Well apparently this horse already is. I treat my horses a ton and none of them bite. I think treats will help tell the horse once they are in your care it is good, and when they are away from you it is not as good, making them want you.

[Cowgirls Rule]

[Kholran]

[Cowgirls Rule]

[Kholran]

In addition...it sounds as though he really doesn't respect you at all. You're below him in the herd and so he's not going to listen to a thing you say. You've got to establish yourself as the herd leader or else he's never going to respect you. Does he act this way for everyone, or is it just you? If there's someone who can go right up and catch him, ask them what they did or observe how they approach him. If not, you've got a lot of work to do, because he sees himself as the top of the ladder and everyone else is beneath him.

[Gold Hope Stable]

has he been gelded if not that could be part of the problem

[Galen]

How often is he turned out?
In what size field?
With how many other horses?
What does he do when he is brought in?
When he does this, WHAT HAPPENS? Does he stay outside, get treats, get yelled at.....

If he is out a lot, and only is brought in to work, he may have developed the habit of being the toughest one to catch. Mentality- if I don't get caught, I can stay out here being a horse. Especially true if something painful happens every time he comes in (even if it is just a poorly fitting saddle).

If he is brought in every day to something pleasent, and still has this attitude, some modified round pen work may be beneficial. The area must be small enough that if he does not want to come up to you, you can ask him to move forward briskly (canter/lope) for several minutes. Remember, you will probably have to run a bit to keep him moving, so keep the area small. Stop asking him to move, and give him the opportunity to approach you politly, or let you approach him quietly. If he gets rambuncitious, he gets to work again for several minutes. You keep doing this until he figures out that the most pleasent, work free place to be is with you.

Give yourself several HOURS the first few times you do this, JUST IN CASE. It may only take him 10-20 minutes to decide he would rather walk nicely with you, or it could take hours. Once you start this, you should NOT stop until you get the result you want.

[Fawn]

I agree with Galen. In the herd, if a horse benieth the herd leader misbehaves, he's driven out as punishment and reminder of where his place is. The herd leader demands respect (thats what he may be doing with you when he charges, driving you out, demanding respect). A horse feels the most safe with the herd, and therefore with the herd leader, so adventually he'll realize that in order to be safe, he'll have to have some manners. If you're in a small space such as Galen suggested, it would be a good idea to drive the horse out (make him work; lope around the pen until he sweats or decides to approach you politely) until you've established that you're the boss-and until he figures that out, he's gunna work.

[~Wishful Thinking~]

[~Wishful Thinking~]

[~Wishful Thinking~]

[~Wishful Thinking~]